Sanskrit Basics For Yogis
Fundamentals of Pronunciation
Friday 2-4:30pm
$35/$28 member
The science of yoga is filled with Sanskrit vocabulary. Teachers and practitioners of yoga, Ayurveda, or meditation can benefit from
learning how to pronounce Sanskrit with correct breath, resonance, rhythm and tongue position. The class will read transliterated text
(English letters with diacritical markings) alongside the original script.

Cakras/Kundalini/Bija Mantras
The Subtle Body
Friday 6-8:30pm
$35/$28 member
What is a nadi, a cakra, the kundalini shakti? Using verses from the Hatha Yoga Pradipika we discuss the theory of awakening the dormant kundalini and how it flows upwards through the sushumna nadi. Each cakra has a primary seed sound and several secondary sound petals which energize it. We then apply the theory by chanting and resonating the seed and petal sounds from the root chakra through the crown, focusing our attention and breath at the location of each cakra.

Yoga Sutras Unraveled: Stages of Samadhi
Gradual progression from Sabija to Nirbija Samadhi, Moving Toward Complete Understanding and Attention
Saturday 10am-12pm
$30/$24 member
Samadhi, the final limb of yoga, has many aspects to it, mostly described in the first chapter of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. These sutras
can be very difficult to grasp, yet reveal how our focused heart-mind can reach a full understanding of whatever object we choose,
whether it be a decision, a dilemma, or even a person. We will examine the relevant sutras and spend time discussing them in depth,
working toward a way to apply samadhi, as a practice and as a state, to our everyday lives.

Mantra Recitation
Exploration into Sacred Sounds
Saturday 1-3pm
$30/$24 member
Mantra is a vibration that produces an energetic effect. They can range from tiny, single-syllable seed mantras whose effect is quite
specific, to large shloka verses that produce a more general effect. We will practice many different kinds of mantra, and unpack their
constituent sounds to discover how they work.

Fire Ceremony, with a Talk on the Origins of Yoga
Saturday 3:30-6pm (sunset at 5:17pm)
$40/$32 member
This session will include a Vedic Fire Ceremony (Homa and Agni Hotra) with chanting and offerings, as well as an exploration of the structure and basic content of primary yoga texts to give a broader view of yoga. Texts include: the Bhagavad Gita, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Gheranda Samhita, and Shiva Samhita.

Relax, Receive and Restore
Imbibing Sacred Chant in Restorative Postures
Sunday 10am-12:30pm
$35/$28 member
You will be guided through a slow and gentle restorative asana sequence. Resting in each posture, your heart and mind become quiet, open and receptive. Nicolai will then recite ancient and powerful Sanskrit chants. Sound directly affects the subtle body via the nervous system. Your body, breath and mind will imbibe the sacred vibrations as if drinking nectar.

Nicolai has been teaching Sanskrit, chanting, yoga philosophy, Ayurveda, and other related topics since 1994. He has a knack for synthesizing and organizing complex topics into simple and understandable presentations. His education combines informal, traditional study with the academic rigor of university classes. Nicolai studied extensively at the American Sanskrit Institute, the Ayurvedic Institute, the American Institute of Vedic Studies and the Vedic Chant Center. He holds an M.A. in Eastern Philosophy, an M.S. in Nutrition, and is eRYT500 certified. His ongoing studies expand upon and inform all future classes.

Nicolai has authored several Sanskrit book/CD learning tools including 108 Sanskrit Flash Cards, The Language of Yoga (Sounds True 2005), The Language of Ayurveda, and The Yoga Sutras: An Essential Guide to the Heart of Yoga Philosophy (Sounds True 2010).

“(Y)oga is so much more than asana (postures), but in depth training in other yogic practices, such as yoga philosophy, ayurveda, vedic chanting, Sanskrit, yoga sutras, & history, is not easy to come by. Well… how lucky are we that Nicolai Bachman is coming to Chicago to share his extensive training in these areas with us? I’ve had the privilege to study with Nicolai several times in the past 5 years, and have always been impressed with his ability to explain concepts I’ve been exposed to several times before, in a new & interesting light. Nicolai is down to earth, easy to engage, accessible, with a quite sense of humor. He often uses common examples from every day life to help clearly illustrate challenging yogic concepts. If you’re interested in deepening your practice, understanding, and application of yoga, you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to study with Nicolai. He’s studied with the masters: David Frawley, director of the American Institute of Vedic Studies Vasant Lad from the Ayurveda Institute in Albuquerque Vyaas Houston from the American Sanskrit Institute” – Kim Wilcox